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1 -
Dave Thomas. Ex-wartime aircrew Bomb Aimer. Dave flew with Geoff Finding, the skipper of Neptune WX545, on operational raids in Halifax bombers during the war. Dave is a very colourful character, was short listed for the successful attempt on Everest in 1952. Undeterred at not being selected, he later invited Sir Edmund Hilary to join him on an expedition to the Caucasus, which Sir Edmund did. The adventures of this exhibition have been the subject of at least one book.
2 -
Ken Wood, Dave Thomas's friend and fellow crew member on Geoff Findings wartime Halifax crew. Was the Air Signaller on the Halifax crew.
3 -
Mrs. Pauline MacIntosh, a friend of Alan Topp's. It was her birthday that day and the only way Alan could get to the services was to invite her to come along, with the approval of the organisers, of course.
4 & 5 -
These persons, are Mrs. Jean and Mr. C.A. Howarth. Mr. Howarth was the civilian meteorological officer at RAF Topcliffe when the fatal crash of WX545 occurred. He subsequently was appointed a Group Captain in the RAF as one of the chief air Ministry meteorologists.
6 -
Pet (Dai) Burton. Flight Engineer on 36 Squadron. On the Squadron Dai was the life and soul of the party and very popular. Dai became a flight engineer on a commercial civilian air line and retired from flying only 2 years ago.
7 -
Alan Topp, who was an Air Signaller on 36 Sqdn. at the time of the accident. In his own words, "I was on the aircraft which was due to take over the task they were on when the task was cancelled and converted to a Search and Rescue mission. We never did get airborne because the report from the lighthouse keeper on the Mull came through just as we were taxiing out".
8 -
Helen Burton Dai's wife, from Forres in Scotland, near RAF Kinloss which was the Maritime Operational Training Unit, (through which we all had to pass.)
9 & 10 -
Jeff. Jenks, Ex-senior Signaller on 36 Squadron with Brenda his wife.
11 -
Nancy Burden, George Burdens wife.
12 -
Brian Kirk, Jock Kirk's youngest son.
13 -
Ian (Jock) Kirk. Jock was luckily posted shortly before WX545 crashed, as he would otherwise have been on the crew.
14 -
Wing Commander Matt Williams, Commanding Officer of 203 Squadron. Matt Williams is the nephew of George Burden, which helped us greatly in obtaining the services of the 203 Squadron Sea King Helicopter. Matt flew the chopper to the Mull with Flt. Lt Ed Straw one of the young Helicopter pilots on his staff.
15 -
George Burden. Popular 36 Squadron Neptune skipper who subsequently flew on civilian airlines.
16 -
Mrs E. Armstrong, sister-in-law of Cyril Armstrong.
17 -
Jack Baker, was a captain on 203 Squadron for four years until the squadron was disbanded and then moved over to 210 Squadron until it, too, was disbanded.
18 -
The great John McGeachy
19 -
Bill Lovelock ex-Air Signaller 36 Squadron, Neptunes. Organised the Mull of Kintyre Memorial and subsequently the Topcliffe Memorial. Was honoured to carry the 36 Squadron standard on both occasions.
20 -
Flt. Lt. Ed Straw, 203 Squadron Helicopter pilot.
21 -
Rev. Roy Muttram formerly an Air Signaller on 36 Squadron.
22 -
Brian Latham. 203 Neptune Squadron skipper at RAF Topcliffe. Brian was a wartime Sgt. Pilot, who was subsequently co-opted to the army to undertake commando training and fly Horsa gliders in preparation for the invasion of Japan which, luckily for him did not take place due to the timely intervention of the A bomb at Hiroshima. Brian lives near Bill Lovelock in a coastal village called Llanfairfechan. A bloody good skipper and a tough cookie to boot.